Horrifying moment cop punches woman in the face during row at Miami airport as he faces instant dismissal

A MIAMI-DADE police officer has been relieved of duty after body camera footage showed him hitting a woman who had been shouting at him.

Antonio Clemente Rodriguez was captured in video recorded in a terminal at Miami International Airport on Wednesday night.

Rodriguez and the unidentified woman, both of whom are black, can be seen talking as he seemingly tries to usher her to another part of the terminal.

At one point, the woman can be heard saying: “You acting like you white but you really black.”

She then steps forward and squares up to Rodriguez, adding: “What you want to do?”

Rodriguez then slaps the woman before stepping forward and pushing her to the ground.

He can then be heard claiming that the woman had head-butted him.

A law enforcement source said a ticket agent had called police because the women was angry about a missed or delayed flight, the Miami Herald reported.

Rodriguez is reported to be stationed at the airport.

Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez condemned the incident after the footage was posted online.

“I am shocked and angered by a body cam video that i just saw involving one of our officers,” he said in a statement posted to twitter.

“I’ve immediately initiated an investigation and ordered that the involved officers be relieved of duty.

“Actions such as these undermine the hard work that we have invested in our community and causes my heart to break for our community and for the vast majority of our officers who dedicate their lives to serving our County.

“This will not stand, and I assure our community that any officer acting in this vain will be held to account.”

Steadman Stahl, the president of the Miami-Dade Police Benevolent Association, sought to defend Rodriguez’s actions, saying he had used a “diversionary strike”.

“Clearly she was the aggressor,” Stahl said.

“She was being asked to leave.

“She’s being belligerent and she pushes her face right into his face.”